What is Schizophrenia

It's a medical illness of the brain that affects 1 out of 100 people worldwide.

Schizophrenia cannot be cured but successful schizophrenia treatment options do exist. Mental health recovery is possible as well as regaining quality of life with access to treatment options, community supports and services.

It tends to first present itself in young men and women during their "prime" maturation period...between ages 15 and 25... so it is often overlooked as "growing pains" or misunderstood as drug use. It has been coined "youth's greatest disabler."

Because it is an illness of the brain, the person may not understand his own symptoms and that he or she is needs mental health help... resulting in greater withdrawal, isolation, paranoia.

Contrary to popular media images of the "violent mental patient," people with schizophrenia tend to be vulnerable and fragile...not violent.

Schizophrenia remains one of the most misunderstood illnesses of our time.